Part II...Summer of Hope: pray together

Sunnyside Transformation Yakima Valley will be hosting the beginning of a series of prayer meetings as part of the organization's Summer of Hope on Sunday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting series is an element of Sunnyside Transformation Yakima Valley's Strategic Prayer Initiative, which will throughout the summer months include a list of prayer needs and requests on the organization's website (http://styv.org).

The effort is spearheaded by Tim and Ann Bardell of B7 Engineering, according to Sunnyside Transformation Yakima Valley Director Roberto Matus.

He said the Bardells are volunteering their efforts, visiting churches in Sunnyside to find out the prayer needs.

"A lot of people pray...everyone prays about things that impact their lives and they pray for others, but have no way of knowing if their prayers are answered," said Matus.

The Strategic Prayer Initiative, he said, is an effort to let those praying for the needs of others to know when and if prayers are answered.

Matus said Mr. Bardell is utilizing skills learned while he served in the U.S. Navy to help the community come together in prayer.

The vision of Sunnyside Transformation Yakima Valley and its volunteers is to unify the community by giving citizens the opportunity to come together through prayer.

Community members can visit the organization's website and see a list of prayer requests, pray on behalf of those making the requests and learn whether or not the request was granted through updates on the website.

The June 12 prayer meeting is another avenue in which the community can unite for the singular purpose of helping meet the needs of others through prayer, according to Matus.

He said the event will be held at Sunnyside's Cornerstone Church, located at North Avenue and North Fourth Street.

Pastor Bob Widman will co-host the meeting, leading participants from throughout the community in lifting up the needs and requests of the community in prayer.

"It's a free, religious community event meant for maintaining unity as directed in Ephesians 4:3 of the Bible," said Matus.

He said, "The idea is to unite everyone toward the same goal for the same purpose."

The event is open to the entire community and people of all faiths.

For more information, contact Tim Bardell at 830-7383, Ann Bardell at 830-0689 or Rose Marie Wrung at 840-2053.